Effects of alcohol and cigarette consumption on human seminal quality

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of alcohol or cigarette consumption on seminal parameters in a large population of men attending an andrology laboratory. DESIGN: Analysis of ten years of data (1990-1999). SETTING: Andrology and Reproduction Laboratory (Córdoba, Argentina). PATIENT(S): Patients (3,976) were grouped according to nonsmokers; <==20 cigarettes/day; >20 cigarettes/day; nonalcohol consumers; <==500 mL of wine ( approximately 52 g of ethanol) or equivalent/day; and >500 mL of wine or equivalent/day. Patients who drank alcohol and smoked were also considered. INTERVENTION(S): A questionnaire was voluntarily filled out by patients. It provided data on drug consumption and genitourinary diseases. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Seminal volume, sperm concentration, motility, viability, and morphology. RESULTS: No statistical differences in seminal parameters were found between the degrees of alcohol or tobacco consumption; so, independently of the degree of consumption patients were considered as smokers or alcohol consumers. CONCLUSION(S): Alcohol or cigarette consumption did not alter the seminal parameters. Nevertheless, when the patients with these two habits were compared to those without these habits, a significant reduction in seminal volume, sperm concentration, percentage of motile spermatozoa, and a significant increase of the nonmotile viable gametes were detected. The synergic or additive effect of these two toxic habits is discussed.